“Oh, Dam Bi! Please come in!” she exclaimed, her voice warm and welcoming as she held the door open wide. The chill of the evening air seeped into the hallway, and she couldn’t help but worry about her guest catching a cold. She watched as the elegant lady in the wheelchair maneuvered herself inside with grace, her smile radiating kindness and warmth. “It’s so good to see you! Where is Mister… I mean, your husband?” she inquired, curiosity evident in her voice as she glanced around the cozy room.

“Wait a sec, you mentioned your name was Kang Choon Hee, didn’t you?” she inquired, eyebrow raised.

I don’t remember ever saying my name at all!

“In the letter, you signed your name gracefully at the bottom, a personal touch that added warmth to your heartfelt words. As she read aloud, her voice gentle and steady, the beauty of the message enveloped her. ‘I hope these vibrant flowers can fill your life with endless happiness, and I wish for your health to improve,’ you had written, your thoughts carefully chosen. ‘I wanted to see you, Kang Choon Hee. Thank you for the sweet notes; they truly lift my spirits.’ The sincerity of your message brought a small smile to her lips, a light in the shadows of her current struggles.”

She gently draped a soft blanket over Dam Bi, noticing the chill that seemed to seep through her bones. As she prepared a warm cup of tea, the fragrant steam curling up into the air, her attention was drawn to the sound of Dam Bi's slight cough, a faint interruption in their shared moments of laughter and joy. The earlier argument with her friends momentarily slipped from her mind, overshadowed by concern for her friend’s well-being.

With a sense of urgency, she reached for the only napkin within reach—a cherished purple handkerchief that had seen her through many a cold and dreary day. As she handed it to Dam Bi, another harsh cough erupted from her throat, and to her horror, blood splattered across the delicate fabric, staining it a deep crimson. Panic surged through her as she knelt beside Dam Bi, her heart racing. “Dam Bi, are you okay?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly. But before she could receive a response, Dam Bi's eyes rolled back, and she succumbed to darkness, collapsing to the ground without a sound.

Where's my phone? Where's in the hell is my phone?

Choon Hee hurriedly unzipped her purse, turning it upside down as a cascade of her belongings tumbled onto the counter. Panic surged within her as she frantically sifted through her scattered cosmetics, the clatter echoing in the tense silence of the room.

Then, her heart skipped a beat as her eyes landed on her phone.

With trembling hands, she dialed the ambulance number, the device shaking as she held it against her ear. Anxiety clawed at her throat as she realized how little she knew about Dam-Bi, other than her being the wife.Names of family, friends, or even Dam-Bi's medical history eluded her.

"Please hurry! I’m so scared; I don't know how this happened!" Her voice broke under the weight of her fear, teetering on the edge of despair.

"Ma'am, please calm down and listen carefully to our instructions. We need you to be brave," the operator reassured, her voice steady yet urgent.

Hot tears welled in Choon Hee’s eyes as she knelt beside Dam-Bi, placing her trembling index and middle fingers on the woman’s chest, then at the base of her thumb, desperately searching for a pulse.

With each passing second, her hope waned as the rhythm beneath her fingers felt weak and faint.

Taking a deep breath to steady her fraying nerves, she thought, Why are they taking so long?

Choon Hee gently tilted Dam-Bi’s head back to keep the airways open, her heart pounding as she prepared for the next critical step. She placed her palms over Dam-Bi's chest, shoulders directly above her hands, and elbows locked, then performed thirty swift chest compressions, each one feeling heavier than the last. After the compressions, she inhaled deeply, administering two breaths into Dam-Bi's lungs, her voice a soft prayer, "Please, Dam-Bi, open your eyes!"

Seconds stretched into what felt like an eternity, but then she heard the distant wail of sirens. Relief surged through her as two paramedics rushed through the door, their equipment in tow, ready to assist.

"You did well, miss, but now it's our turn to save this woman," one of them said, taking charge.

"Promise me that you'll save her!" Choon Hee’s voice was raw with emotion, desperation spilling from her heart.

"We will try our best," the paramedic assured her, and she stepped aside, heart racing as she watched them work. Relief washed over her as Dam-Bi's eyelids fluttered open, the spark of life returning. Choon Hee covered her mouth in disbelief, tears of gratitude streaming down her cheeks; the overwhelming sense of thankfulness was nearly suffocating.

Never in a million years would I have imagined that the skills I learned in university would prove so vital.

As Choon Hee climbed into the back of the ambulance, she grasped her friend’s hand tightly, occasionally glancing down to check the vitals, her heart fluttering with hope.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed, the sound slicing through the chaos around her.

"Miss, here's your phone." One of the paramedics handed it to her, eyes focused on the road ahead.

As she glanced down, her heart sank; it wasn’t her phone, but a mistaken device. She was about to inform the paramedic when her breath caught in her throat. The screen displayed a beautiful home image of Dam-Bi and Mister sharing a kiss at their wedding, radiating joy.

Then, a text message illuminated the screen:
Husband: Can you open the door? I bought the coffee and bagel that you asked for, sweetheart <3

A box popped up on her screen:
INCOMING CALL: HUSBAND

In a moment of chaos, she accidentally pressed the answer button, her voice trembling as she spoke into the phone, "This is Kang Choon Hee! When I came back to the building there she was, out of nowhere she coughed up blood.”

"Is she alright?" his voice came through, laced with concern.

"We're on our way to Kanwa University Hospital," she replied, urgency taking over.

"I will meet you there," he stated firmly, and Choon Hee felt a flicker of hope amidst the turmoil.

She was just smiling and laughing, how could this happen?

Kang Choon Hee sat in the waiting area, the sterile smell of antiseptic mingling with the hushed whispers and anxious murmurs of other visitors. It was a somber space, filled with the faint beeping of machines and the occasional rustle of nurses’ uniforms. Eventually, she was called into the patient private room, her heart racing with worry.

As she stepped inside, her gaze fell upon Dam Bi, who lay helplessly on the hospital bed. An IV drip hung beside her, the clear fluid slowly nourishing her frail body as nurses diligently inserted medicine through the thin tube that snaked into her arm. Dam Bi looked up, her face pale and tired, her hair disheveled but neatly pulled back into a stylish bun by a nurse who was working quickly and efficiently.

"Choon Hee," she spoke weakly, each syllable a struggle, followed by a series of coughs that rattled her chest and echoed in the quiet room. Her voice was barely recognizable, a mere shadow of its former vibrancy.

"Are you alright, Dam Bi? Do you remember what happened?" Choon Hee asked, her voice laced with deep concern.

"I must've moved too much— it seems like my body is getting weaker. I can’t even manage a basic conversation,” Dam Bi replied with a faint smile, her attempt at humor a mere flicker of light in this dark moment.

The nurse, glancing disapprovingly, chimed in, "Dr. Lee said you're always supposed to stay in the bed, or things like this can happen."

Choon Hee then noticed the mobile device resting on Dam Bi’s bedside, a small connection to the outside world. "Oh, here's your cell phone. Mister is on his way," she said, holding it out as if it were a lifeline.

Dam Bi looked at the phone, her expression shifting. "Why do people bring flowers to the sick?" she mused, her gaze drifting out of the window where the world continued its routine. "It’s like bringing a piece of life to someone trapped in this place, a reminder of what’s outside."

Her words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken fears. “He better come before I take my last breath,” she said, her tone filled with a mixture of longing and resignation.

Choon Hee flinched at the gravity of the statement, feeling as though a knife had been thrust into her heart. "Why would you say something like that? It's so cruel—some things shouldn't be spoken, Dam Bi. Words have power, and if you say them... it’s like inviting them to happen."

Her voice was soft yet tinged with pain, like a wounded animal trying to claw its way back to hope. "What would you do, Choon Hee? If you were given a month to live, burdened with regret? Would you joke about it or lay bare your fears, knowing the end is near? What does cruelty matter in that dark hour?"

"That's absurd! Please don't think like that; you have Mister!" Choon Hee's voice rose, desperation creeping in.

"I envy you, Choon Hee—you're beautiful and have your whole life ahead of you. Can I ask a favor?" Dam Bi’s tone took on a serious note, her eyes glistening with sincerity.

"Please don’t let it be what I think it is," Choon Hee's stomach twisted at the thought.

“Promise me... when I’m gone and in heaven, could you watch over Tae Hyun? Stay by his side longer than I could?” Dam Bi's voice trembled with a blend of jealousy and heartfelt longing.

"What are you asking of me?" Choon Hee responded, feeling her heart sink deeper into a chasm of despair.

“Please... Tae Hyun and I have been together all our lives. He’s always been in my shadow, even as kids—following me around. We've never truly been apart, and I can’t bear the thought of him suffering alone when I leave. I want him to enjoy life, even in my absence.”

Choon Hee's hands began to tremble as she struggled to keep her composure. This was too much to bear. Just as she felt overwhelmed, she heard footsteps approaching from behind. She turned to see Mister enter the room, his presence an unexpected balm amidst the pain.

"Honey, what did you do to the poor florist?" he asked playfully, though his gaze quickly shifted as he sensed the tension in the air. Choon Hee's heart broke at the sight, and at that moment, she knew she had to escape the room, needing to shield herself from the unbearable weight of despair lingering within those four walls.